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Feb 28, 2015

The West was Los Angeles and Long Beach, where Led Zep performed two legendary shows in June 1972, which have been seamlessly edited together to form one incredible live album. Probably the highlight is the monstrous, 25-minute version of Dazed and Confused , but the 23-minute medley based on Rock and Roll comes close. Great performances, great price!

Amazon.com

For a band with such an overarching legacy, the official record of Led Zeppelin's legendary and unpredictable live act has heretofore been poorly represented by the disappointing, scattershot soundtrack to The Song Remains the Same. But this triple-disc live set (culled from 1972 Long Beach/LA shows in advance of Houses of the Holy) addresses history with a vengeance, if a few decades late. These shows have rightfully assumed cult status in the bootleg market, showcasing a band at the peak of its creative and performing powers. Zep faithful will welcome the belated release as evidence for enduring loyalty, but younger fans may find its diversity and dynamics even more enlightening--indeed, whole careers have since been built on the musical ideas Jimmy Page and company toss off here as decorative filler. Crucially rooted in the amped-and-hammered American blues of the guitarist's former band, the Yardbirds, the marathon workouts of "Dazed and Confused" and "Whole Lotta Love" (which consume nearly an hour all by themselves) somehow encompass Ricky Nelson, Morocco, James Brown, Holst, Elvis Presley, and Muddy Waters amidst their trademark sturm und drang, while the acoustic set that closes out disc one showcases the band's and particularly Robert Plant's good-natured, crypto-Celtic folk appeal with energetic aplomb. Bigger and brasher than just about any rock act that followed in its historic wake, yet ever fan-loyal to its myriad influences, Led Zeppelin's live juggernaut finally gets the monument it deserves. --Jerry McCulley

Review by Jim EschThis was the end of the line for Bread. David Gates reunited one last time with James Griffin after a four-year hiatus spawned by a power dispute between the two lead songwriters. The band returned to form pretty well intact, with the Gates power ballad "Lost Without Your Love" cracking the Top Ten. It would be their last hit single. By 1977, the Bread formula was starting to sound dated, but despite the unevenness, completists and heartier Bread fans should seek and find this record. There's plenty of filler, but a couple of the Gates ballads stand out: "Hooked on You" and "Belonging" are trademark honey sweet singer/songwriter pop. James Griffin co-wrote three cuts with original Bread member Robb Royer, and their work, like "She's the Only One," has a somewhat grittier country rock feel that is lacking in the more pop-centric work of Gates. "Hold Tight" is the album's only true embarrassment an abortive attempt at disco-rock. Casual listeners can safely stick with the best-of collections (especially Rhino's Bread retrospective, on which Lost Without Your Love is adequately represented).

Tracklist:
1. Hooked On You
2. She's The Only One
3. Lost Without Your Love
4. Change Of Heart
5. Belonging
6. Fly Away
7. Lay Your Money Down
8. The Chosen One
9. Today's The First Day
10. Hold Tight

Feb 27, 2015

Info on Vigrass & Osborne was pretty hard to find. I found this bio at: www.thenotebookof.blogspot.com

"Forgotten pop: Vigrass and Osborne (1972 - 74)

Here you'll find all I have been able to assemble about Vigrass and Osborne: the British duo of Paul Vigrass and Gary Osborne. They had a brief recording history in the early 1970s which resulted in a handful of sparkling pop singles that were criminally ignored in most territories around the world.

Depending on territory, the records were released on labels such as Uni (in USA), MCA (NZ, Brazil), Epic or JCM.

The known singles were:

Men Of Learning/Forever Autumn (1972)

Virginia/Ballerina (1972) - audio of Virginia now available on Youtube

Mr Deadline/Remember Pearl Harbour* (1972) - audio of Mr Deadline now available on Youtube (unfortunately missing some of intro and a few bars in the middle)

Their producer, Jeff Wayne, was a writer and producer of commercial jingles - he undoubtedly brought that sensibility to the table, as well as playing organ and co-writing some of the songs. Musicians I recognise on the albums include guitarists Chris Spedding and Caleb Quaye, and Ray Cooper (percussion); the latter two frequently worked with Elton John.

Wayne, of course, later produced the highly successful War Of The Worlds album in 1978. To that project, he took with him Gary Osborne to write lyrics to some of the songs - and he uplifted a Vigrass And Osborne tune - Forever Autumn, which became the biggest seller and signature tune from War Of The Worlds. The original - less wistful and at a brighter tempo - had been the b-side to V&O's first single, and you can listen to the original here. I post the link with some hesitation, as the song by no means does them sufficient justice, and pales against the better production values of the later, better-remembered version.

According to this site, they were also both in a band called Casablanca (as was Bias Boshell, writer of I've Got The Music In Me) for one eponymous 1974 album.

Prior to V&O, Paul Vigrass had a few solo releases in the late 1960s (including Free Lorry Ride and A New Man), then briefly replaced Tony Burrows as lead singer of the studio band Edison Lighthouse. But I have found no record of him past 1974. There's one audio of his on Youtube - Suzie - very much in the Burrows/Lighthouse style.

Gary Osborne leaves a number of traces, though - as a lyricist. He apparently wrote English lyrics for the Veronique Sanson song Amoureuse, recorded by Kiki Dee in 1974 (a year after the original). But his best residual income would be from the War Of The Worlds album, possibly also for his lyrics for Elton John on three albums in the mid-1980s; the hits were Part Time Love, Little Jeannie, and Blue Eyes. He's been active as lyricist as recently as 2006.

I write this because Vigrass And Osborne have nigh-on disappeared from the tribal consciousness, which is quite the opposite of the fate they merit. I best know them for their highlight: Mr Deadline, a wonderful piece of pop which thoroughly deserves to be remembered. Interestingly, it shared a vocal line with Sweet's Blockbuster. My memory tells me I heard Deadline first and thought Blockbuster was the ripoff; however the records show the latter was released a couple of weeks earlier in my territory (and no comparisons available elsewhere), so the situation is unresolved. However, never put it beyond messrs Chinn and Chapman (Sweet, Quatro, Mud, Smokie, etc etc) to steal anything not nailed down. [listen to the falsetto 'ah-aaaah' at the very end of Deadline, and at the beginning of Blockbuster - they're identical.]

The only charting info I have (to my knowledge, all based on record sales):

Some additional information available at Gary Osborne's Wikipedia entry. A blog entry for The Great Big Radio provided some information found nowhere else, as well as the above picture cover, and more accolades.

*Note that Pearl Harbour is nothing to do with war, but like Virginia relates the tale of an eponymous woman."

Release Date: November 5, 2013 Label: Universal Japan Format: CD Catalog #0578864 Reissue. Comes with two bonus tracks. Uses 2013 remaster based on the UK analog tape (subject to change). The cardboard sleeve faithfully replicates the UK first pressing LP (gatefold), including an insert. Contains an obi replicating the Japanese first pressing edition. Includes a description and lyrics. Features the high-fidelity SHM-CD format (compatible with standard CD player).

Feb 25, 2015

1991's
"The Prodigal Stranger" marked the most-welcome return of Procol Harum,
14 years after their last album, 1977's "Something Magic." Back in the
band are veteran members Gary Brooker on piano & vocals, Matthew
Fisher on organ, Robin Trower on guitar, & lyricist Keith Reid.
"The Prodigal Stranger" is a magnificent album, the band sounding so
re-vitalized on these masterful, melodic songs...

Tracklist:

1. The Truth Won't Fade Away
2. Holding On
3. Man With A Mission
4. (You Can't) Turn Back The Page
5. One More Time
6. A Dream In Ev'ry Home
7. The Hand That Rocks The Cradle
8. The King Of Hearts
9. All Our Dreams Are Sold
10. Perpetual Motion
11. Learn To Fly
12. The Pursuit Of Happiness

Feb 23, 2015

Gipsy Love were an Austrian Anglo-American hard rock band. Their debut LP had some progressive sections and Teutonic touchs recalling the likes of Epitaph, Birth Control, et al.Bassist Kurt Hauenstein went on to find fame with disco band Supermax in the mid 70.

Tracklist:
1. Just A Little Love
2. There Is Something In Your Mind
3. Every Time I See Your Smile
4. I Observed So Many Changes
5. Let Me Come Over
6. Don’t Be Surprised
7. She Smiles
8. In Search
9. What’s It All About

Feb 20, 2015

If was Great Britain's contribution to the jazz-rock movement begun and popularized in the late '60s/early '70s by Blood, Sweat & Tears and Chicago. Formed in 1969 by Melody Maker jazz poll winners Dave Quincy, Dick Morrissey, and Terry Smith,
the band never found popular success in the United States. However, If
produced several albums noteworthy for placing jazz players in a
pop/rock band context and producing a true fusion of the two genres
without diluting the players' improvisational skills. Unlike most of
their horn-band contemporaries, If had no brass players in the band,
relying solely on the saxophones of Dick Morrissey and the flute and
saxophones of Dave Quincy. But what really gave If its unique sound were
the vocals of J.W. Hodgkinson and the guitar of Terry Smith.
Hodgkinson's vocal timbre was unusual -- smooth, flexible, and strong in
the high end, sounding like no other vocalist. Smith's trebly guitar
sound was also unique, combining a rocker's use of sustain with the jazz
fluency of Wes Montgomery and Django Reinhardt. The original
incarnation of If produced five excellent albums between 1970 and 1972,
but these albums failed to find an audience. Morrissey soldiered on with
the If name for two more albums with a totally different lineup and a
more generic rock-type sound, but these, too, went nowhere. Drummer Dennis Elliott was later a member of the platinum-selling rock band Foreigner.

Bassist
Neil Murray and guitarists Mick Moody and Bernie Marsden were all
members of the inaugural lineup of Whitesnake from 1978 to 1982, up
through the Saints & Sinners album. By mid-decade all three had
departed and moved on to other projects; Moody and Marsden later
reconvened as the blues-rock Moody & Marsden Band, and all three
reunited in 1999 as part of Company of Snakes. Drummer John Lingwood,
keyboardist Don Airey, and vocalist Stefan Bergren completed the lineup,
which devoted itself to a mix of early Whitesnake songs and new
material. After extensive touring, the live album Here They Go Again was
issued in early 2001. (allmusic.com)

Feb 15, 2015

The
Snakes were a British-Norwegian hard rock band, formed by former
Whitesnake members Bernie Marsden, Micky Moody, Neil Murray, and Cozy
Powell and former Vagabond singer Jørn Lande in 1997. Eventually the
line-up consisted of guitarists Marsden and Moody with Norwegian
vocalist , bassist Sid Ringsby, who later joined the Norwegian band TNT,
and drummer Willy Bendiksen. The band released two albums and broke up
after the second album, in 1999.

Feb 13, 2015

Review by J.P. Ollio:The Bunch was a loosely knit group of English folk-rock veterans who recorded this disappointing set of oldies covers. The Bunch exhibits no shortage of enthusiasm for their renditions of Berry, Presley, Lewis, and Holly hits. However, the record suffers from both sloppy playing and obvious song selections. Not surprisingly, the album's high points are the two most obscure songs: Dion's "My Girl the Month of May" (sung by Richard Thompson), and Sandy Denny's heartfelt reading of Buddy Holly's "Learning the Game."

Tracklist:
1. Crazy Arms
2. That'll Be The Day
3. Don't Be Cruel
4. The Loco-Motion

5. My Girl In The Month Of May
6. Love's Made A Fool Of You
7. Willie & The Hand Jive
8. Jambalaya (On The Bayou)
9. When Will I Be Loved
10. Nadine
11. Sweet Little Rock'n'Roller
12. Learning The GameBonus tracks:
13. Let There Be Drums
14. Twenty Flight Rock
15. High School Confidential
16. La Bamba

Feb 10, 2015

Famous poet Jacques Werup formed this progressive band in Malmo in 1973. His Swedish-language lyrics on Stormvarning have a socialist message with a poetic, yet violent, touch. The band strove to make the music radical, with most of the music written by Rolf Sersam. The standout cut, "Snart Bryter Stormen Ut", was written by Werup and guitarist Mulle Holmqvist, who really shines here. Ek and Karlberg were ten replaced by Lasse Berggrensson and Percy Malmqvist? who both had played with Holmqvist in 60's band The Troublemakers. Storm At The Top saw the entire band mooning on the back cover. It featiured English-language lyrics and less experimental, but still progressive, music. EMI in London wanted Storm to have a big tour in Great Britain? but bad wages made the band decline the offer. The third and final album was released in 1977 and featured a new rhythm section? consisting of former Lotus members Stefan Berggrensson and Hakan Nyberg. Casanova i Mjölby is an excellent Swedish-language concept album. It tells an anachronistic story about Italian legend Giacomo Casanova (1725-1798) coming to a small town in Sweden in 1977 to witness society in decay. Like its predecessors? the album was co-produced by the band and Gunnar Lindqvist (G.L. Unit). The vinyl is hopused ina great sleeve by painter Bo Hulten. Despite the album being the peak of Storm's career, the band quit soon after. Werup went on to release several solo albums, often collaborating with his former Storm colleagues.Taken from Tobias Petterson's & Ulf Henningsson's "The Encyclopedia of Swedish Progressive Music 1967-1979"

Tracklist:1. Simply Funny Honey2. Jane3. Where Can I Go?4. She Sleeps In The Grass5. Cry6. KIng Of Love7. His Royal Highness8. Quality Quality9. Owned10. Why Coming Together11. I'm Not You12. We're So Many

Feb 2, 2015

Definitive double-album anthology, including all of their hit singles and many other tracks. "The One for You," "Crazy 'Bout My Baby, " "The Man You'll Be Looking For, " and "Miss McBaren, " especially, are accomplished mod rockers on par with some of the best material of the sort being produced in Britain in the mid-'60s.

Tracklist:
1. Sleep Little Girl
2. I Should Be Glad
3. Don't Turn Your Back
4. Forget Him
5. The One For You
6. Bloodhound
7. So Many Girls
8. I'm Mad
9. I'll Be Doggone
10. In My Dreams
11. Crazy 'Bout My Baby
12. Leaving Here
13. Guess Who
14. Jealous Girl
15. The Man You'll Be Looking For
16. Miss McBaren
17. Every Raindrop Means A Lot
18. My Home Town
19. I'm Going Out
20. Sister's Got A Boy Friend
21. Wanting
22. She's Having A Baby Now
23. Treat Her Like A Lady
24. Have You Seen Your Brother Lately
25. It's My Life
26. Like A Woman
27. Seeing With Love
28. There's A Blind Man Playing Fiddle In The Street
29. Fantasy Island
30. I Read You Like an Open Book
31. Halcyon DaysBonus track:
32. I Wake Up And Call